Chief Warrant Officer 2 Benjamin Hallquist currently serves as Director of the Parris Island Marine Band. In this capacity he serves as the officer in charge and principal conductor. He manages, administers, and coordinates musical performances, develops budgets and annual operation plans, directs internal operations and training, and supervises the employment of a Marine Corps Fleet Band.
CWO2 Hallquist holds a Bachelors of Arts in Management from American Military University with graduate honors.
CWO2 Hallquist enlisted in the US Marine Corps in 2007 and completed Recruit Training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, California and Marine Combat Training at Camp Pendleton, California. He completed the Basic Music Course in 2008 at the Armed Forces School of Music in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
CWO2 Hallquist served as a percussion instrumentalist in the following Fleet Marine Bands: Parris Island Marine Band (2008-2010); 1st Marine Division Band (2010-2018); 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Band (2018-2021); CWO2 Hallquist served as a Drum Major at Marine Band San Diego (2021-2024). As do all Fleet Marine musicians, CWO2 Hallquist served in a variety of music, collateral duty, and leadership roles, to include Platoon leadership.
CWO2 Hallquist deployed to the Helmand Province, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (2013).
CWO2 Hallquist was appointed a Warrant Officer and graduated from The Basic School in 2024, and he served as the Director of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Band (2024-2025).
CWO2 Hallquist attended the Unit Leader Course (2018) and the Advanced Musician Course (2023). His awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (4th award) and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.